I'm sure you're all aware that the Fiji v Ireland tie is to be played at Spotland and this is a heads up to say anyone who wants tickets should think about getting them as soo as possible. I 'phoned last week and had a job getting two together in anything but the end blocks of our main stand. At the moment the Willbutts Lane stand isn't being sold but the other three areas are.

Fiji v Ireland

Monday October 28th 2013

K.O. TBA

Ticket prices

Main stand - £20 adults & £10 conc

End Stand (seated) - £15 & £7.50 conc

End Terrace (standing) - £10 & £5 conc

Pugwash.

Bobbie Goulding is God

DeepakChopra:

"Every time you are tempted to react in the same old way, ask yourself if you want to be a prisoner of the past or a pioneer of the future".

Really sorry Pugwash but we are struggling to bring any enthusiasm into our own clubs, St Helens reserves and probably Salford reserves, never mind two second tier rugby league nations in a world cup tournament that 99.9% of the world knows nothing about. Reckon one turnstile should be enough.

Gav, no dis-respect fella, but you only seem young enough to know the SL era. Fans who have supported the game 25+ plus have a right to have a moan about the way this game is going, as it certainly is going to the dogs. They understood the mechanisms that built the foundations of our game, and to see that slowly destroyed by poor decision after bad, it's opinion that the RFL/SL will not take on board.

I'm planning to go. Should be a good game and both sides will deserve some support.

With the best, thats a good bit of PR, though I would say the Bedford team, theres, like, you know, 13 blokes who can get together at the weekend to have a game together, which doesnt point to expansion of the game. Point, yeah go on!

Gav, no dis-respect fella, but you only seem young enough to know the SL era. Fans who have supported the game 25+ plus have a right to have a moan about the way this game is going, as it certainly is going to the dogs. They understood the mechanisms that built the foundations of our game, and to see that slowly destroyed by poor decision after bad, it's opinion that the RFL/SL will not take on board.

When my uncle was playing for York in 1987, Hull in 1992 and Doncaster (in the Big League) in 1994 I never missed a game, even though I was only young.

I think its fair to say the game is in a far better condition now than it was then. Far better.

Not sure how it's in a far better condition??
Granted we see shiny new seats in a few stadiums in super duper league
The gap between the aussies and us is bigger than ever the final next year will be aus v NZ we all know that may as just play the final..
The international game is a joke bring back the GB and Aussie tours this tri nations nonesense is embarrasing
Salford, Wakefield, Bradford even St Helens are close or have been very close to finacial meltdown in the last 12 months
London despite countless restarts continues to fail miserbaly in the capital
total failures in wales, paris, sheffield, Oldham, Leigh, halifax, whitehaven, workington, barrow, gateshead, widnes (how long before they hit the rocks again)
Reserve team football seems to be disapperaing because of finacial constraints meaning more and more players leaving the game..
Amateur rugby is not exactly thriving more surviving..
Sure i could go on but to be honest it's not worth it..
Better Condition well we arent likely to ever agree 100% but i am struggling to see any improvements to be honest..

Spot on mahdlo.
SL was created on the purpose to bring more intesity to the game, for the sole purpose to challenge and topple the Australians. If it was an exam, the student would of failed.
Pre SL, under the banner of Great Britain, depsite what we have now where the home nations have been broken up, the British game isn't weaker for it, as the better players will always be shoe horned into playing for England - a RFL employee broadcast this information in a radio interview just recently. The lesser of the home nations will be picked with third/fourth Austrialans/Kiwis etc. In fact, England suffer the same problem
Under Mal Reilly in 1989,90,92 and Hanley 1994, the International game had started to swing back into our arena, and despite the Aussie sides brimming with far more talent than the current day, GB were whiskers away of toppling them. Australia took the International arena seriously, unlike today, where State of Origin is their preference.
It is during this time that GB had a plethora of skillful halfbacks to pick from in the mode of Edwards, Gregory, Fox, Ford, Davies, Schofield, Steadman etc. All competing for the two half back roles, leaving some disapointed. The same for could be said for Australia, Lyons, Fittler, Langer, Jackson etc. Can the game boast that talent anymore? No. The game has evolved into 13 gym monkeys trying to overpower each other in a sterile 'barge-a-thon', however, it seems Australia are looking back to what made them good and adapting their game accordingly. If we measure the game as it is today, we have a substanded Kiwi/Maori the best option for the scrum halves jersey, and a loose forward the number one choice at stand off. That's progress?
SL also claimed to bring financial stabilty to clubs. Since then we lost Paris, Oldham, Blackpool etc and nearly every club has been close to being wound up. Again, a fail.
The positives is that the game has tried to expand, but has done through forced expansion rather than gradual development, Catalan excluded as they were all ready a proved side. But look at the outcome of Gateshead, Celtic Crusaders, Paris etc? Again, failed.
SL has brought some grounds and facilities into the modern era, but at what cost? Match day revenue is lost as money made inside some of grounds feed a stadium comittee, rather than going back to the club. And because of that, clubs have to increase the entrance to the game to unaffordable levels.
There is no clear pathways anymore from the amatuer to pro ranks for players, as the RFL change their minds every four months. No reserve teams anymore, so player development is hindered, and due to financial constraints have to lean on a lesser club to develop their talent for them. Again, Fail.
Sorry Gav, I can only see the negatives.

I know the World Cup doesn't really cut it as a whole but I think this tie is very close to call. The main stand is filling fast and the ends are both open, so if you like to stand behind the sticks, you can do!

By the way, you can get tickets from Spotland if you wish instead of using the RFL website. Also, the corporate packages will be available soon so if you would like to be considered for them you can put your name down.

Pugwash.

Bobbie Goulding is God

DeepakChopra:

"Every time you are tempted to react in the same old way, ask yourself if you want to be a prisoner of the past or a pioneer of the future".

did i read somewhere that mark wynn was calling for the world cup to be named after Paul Barrière??

when mr Barrière died 6 or so months before the last world cup in 2008 i led a campaign to name the world cup after him....it turns out he decline the offer years ago while he was still alive..so while not wanting to do something against his wishes we switched our attention to naming the world cup man of the match medal after mr Barrière instead.......its got emailed to everyone that could have made that decision...but it kinda died a death......

if we want to honor mr Barrière.....the world cup final MoM medal is the way to go.....cos he never wanted the actual trophy named after him .

There are more Fijians living in Rochdale than anywhere else in the UK stemming from the influx of Fijians who played for the Hornets way back in the 1960 s. There are persons of Irish descent all over Lancashire. The host town orgainsing committee who bid for this game seem to be promoting it well. The Fijians made the semi finals in 2008. I think these various factors of and by themselves should make the game an attraction and result in a decent attendance.

It is just down the road from Oldham, as is Salford and Old Trafford all of whom are hosting games in this tournament. The game gets criticised for our weak international set up and here are three games on your doorstep. If you all don't support them, then we can only blame ourselves for the paucity of international RL in the future. I think it will be a great tournament. The RU will get big gates for their lesser games in 2015 over here. Let us show that we can be as positive in our support for our World Cup

There are more Fijians living in Rochdale than anywhere else in the UK stemming from the influx of Fijians who played for the Hornets way back in the 1960 s. There are persons of Irish descent all over Lancashire. The host town orgainsing committee who bid for this game seem to be promoting it well. The Fijians made the semi finals in 2008. I think these various factors of and by themselves should make the game an attraction and result in a decent attendance.

It is just down the road from Oldham, as is Salford and Old Trafford all of whom are hosting games in this tournament. The game gets criticised for our weak international set up and here are three games on your doorstep. If you all don't support them, then we can only blame ourselves for the paucity of international RL in the future. I think it will be a great tournament. The RU will get big gates for their lesser games in 2015 over here. Let us show that we can be as positive in our support for our World Cup

That's one of the best posts I have ever read Keighley.

Thank you.

Pugwash.

Bobbie Goulding is God

DeepakChopra:

"Every time you are tempted to react in the same old way, ask yourself if you want to be a prisoner of the past or a pioneer of the future".